Structured Abstract

Contents

• Errata
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Key Informants
• Technical Expert Panel
• Peer Reviewers
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
  • Background
  • Rationale for Comparative Effectiveness Review
  • Conceptual Model
  • Key Questions
• Methods
  • Topic Development
  • Search Strategy
  • Study Selection
  • Data Abstraction
  • Quality Assessment
  • Data Analysis and Synthesis
  • Data Entry and Quality Control
  • Rating Body of Evidence
  • Applicability
  • Peer Review and Public Commentary
• Results
  • Summary of Findings
  • Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
  • Sublingual Immunotherapy
  • Sublingual Versus Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
• Discussion
  • Summary of Key Findings
  • Applicability
  • Study Limitations
  • Comparison of Results With Prior Systematic Reviews
  • Future Research Needs
• Conclusion
• References
• Appendix A Search Strategy
• Appendix B Screening and Data Abstraction Forms
• Appendix C Population, Intervention, Comparators, Outcomes and Dosage Specification
• Appendix D Evidence Tables for Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
• Appendix E Evidence Tables for Sublingual Immunotherapy
• Appendix F Evidence Tables for Sublingual Immunotherapy Versus Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
• Appendix G Evidence Tables for Pediatric Studies
• Appendix H Excluded Articles

Errata added May and August 2013

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services¹, Contract No. 290-2007-10061-I, Prepared by: Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center, Baltimore, MD

Suggested citation:

Lin SY, Erekosima N, Suarez-Cuervo C, Ramanathan M, Kim JM, Ward D, Chelladurai Y, Segal JB. Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and/or Asthma: Comparative Effectiveness Review. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 111. (Prepared by the Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-10061-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 13-EHC061-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. March 2013. Errata added May and August 2013. www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm.

This report is based on research conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2007-10061-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help health care decisionmakers—patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among others—make well-informed decisions and thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances presented by individual patients.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

None of the investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.

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